Racing UK (SKY 432 and Virgin 536) is delighted to announce the sponsorship of the HEROS charity raceday at Newbury on December 29, when the two feature Grade 1 races, the Challow Hurdle and the rescheduled Long Walk Hurdle will be shown free to air on Sky.

Racing UK is proud to back the HEROS charity (Homing Ex-Racehorses Organisation Scheme), which is one of the most worthy causes in the sport. The Racing 2.05 pm Racing UK Free Today on Sky 432 Challow Novices Hurdle Race always attracts the best novice hurdlers, while the 2.40 pm Racing UK on Virgin 536 Long Walk Hurdle has been rescheduled from Ascot's abandoned fixture on Saturday and is set to feature the eagerly-awaited clash between Big Buck's and Diamond Harry.

And all racing fans with satellite can watch coverage of Newbury's meeting - along with action from Musselburgh - as it will be shown free to air.

Commercial Director of Racing UK Nick Mills said: "Racing UK is thrilled to lend its support to HEROS, which has also enjoyed tremendous support from Newbury Racecourse and the BHA (British Horseracing Authority).

"The welfare and health of racehorses once their racing days are behind them is of the utmost importance to the sport, and HEROS has successfully rehomed and retrained hundreds of racehorses, and so giving them a second chance.

"In addition, as a special Christmas present to all race fans, we are showing coverage from Newbury free-to-air. There has been much consternation in the press that the Long Walk Hurdle would not get the TV audience it merited, but now anyone with satellite can watch on Sky 432."

Grace Muir, Chief Executive and Founder of HEROS, added: "All of us at HEROS are absolutely overwhelmed at the generosity of Racing UK for coming in at such short notice to make Newbury such a special winner for us.

"We had been working for what seemed like ages to find a sponsor for the Challow Hurdle and now we also have the fantastic added benefit of the Long Walk Hurdle.

"I personally would like to thank Racing UK from the bottom of my heart and I must also not forget Newbury Racecourse and Bathwick Tyres, for a really terrific Christmas present for HEROS."

Stephen Higgins, Joint MD of Newbury racecourse, said: "Newbury Racecourse is extremely grateful for Racing UK's backing of the day and I know the BHA is also very supportive of the channel's significant donation to HEROS."

The action comes thick and fast after Christmas on Racing UK, with the two-day William Hill Winter Festival starting on Boxing Day and featuring the King George VI Chase, in which Kauto Star will bid for a fourth straight win in the showpiece race. There are four other meetings on Boxing Day from Wetherby, Wincanton, Huntingdon and Market Rasen.

The second day of the Kempton meeting is available only on Racing UK and features the Desert Orchid Chase, while also on December 27, Racing UK cameras are again at Wetherby and then at Catterick on December 28.

Also don't miss a selection of features on Racing UK over the next three days, including the team's top races of 2010, reviews of Aintree, Cheltenham, the Flat season and the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, Desert Orchid and Sea The Stars features, and Life with the Longsdons. For more details see below.

Racing UK is available on Sky 432 (UK, NI, ROI), Virgin 536 (UK) or Corus ntl 411 (ROI). For more information or to subscribe, go to www.racinguk.com.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Wednesday 23-12-09

10:00 CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 2009

Relive the Festival of 2009 featuring the history making run of Kauto Star

14:15 DESERT ORCHID

Tom O'Ryan looks back at the career of one of the best loved horses of recent years.

15:00 ENEMY NUMBER ONE: PATRICK VEITCH

An in-depth interview with Patrick Veitch, the scourge of the bookmakers.

16:00 LIFE WITH LONGSDON (Parts 1 & 2)

A look behind the scenes at the Hull Farm stables of Charlie Longsdon

16:30 SEA THE STARS

The story of the star of the 2009 flat season

17:00 THE TOP RACES OF 2009

The Racing UK Team pick their favourite races of 2009

18:00 AINTREE 2009

A full review of the 2009 Aintree Grand National Meeting

21:30 AINTREE 2009

Thursday 24-12-09

01:00 AINTREE 2009

04:30 AINTREE 2009

08:00 AINTREE 2009

11:30 DESERT ORCHID

12:00 ENEMY NUMBER ONE: PATRICK VEITCH

13:00 THE DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009

A review of the 2009 Dubai Carnival culminating in the richest race in the world, The Dubai World Cup.

14:00 THE TOP RACES OF 2009

The presenters and pundits relive their favourite moments of 2009

14:30 LIFE WITH LONGSDON

15:00 SEA THE STARS

15:30 CHELTENHAM 2009

19:45 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

Lydia Hislop and Steve Mellish look back on an epic Flat Season

21:15 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

22:45 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

00:15 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

Friday 25-12-09

01:45 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

03:15 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

04:45 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

06:15 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

07:45 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

09:15 FLAT REVIEW OF 2009

10:45 AINTREE 2009

14:15 ENEMY NUMBER ONE

15:15 DUBAI CARNIVAL 2009

16:15 LIFE WITH LONGSDON

17:00 THE TOP RACES OF 2009

18:00 CHELTENHAM 2009

22:15 CHELTENHAM 2009

02:30 CHELTENHAM 2009

06:45 CHELTENHAM 2009

11:00 THE TOP RACES OF 2009

12:00 MARK YOUR CARD